Malwarebytes is quite popular and awesome program to do a scan. However, for some reason, whenever I do a scan on my netbook, it keeps freezing The software works on my main PC but for some reason, malwarebytes just freezes after say 30 minutes into the scan. I have tried restarting the netbook(as recommended by a quick google search), I have tried to reinstall and still no luck.

Well in safemode, the scan is running butter smooth. I think it could be symantec and/or Microsoft Security Essentials.

That might be the problem there, symantec! A system hogg! Try disabling symantec and running MB and see if it runs all the way through.
When your subscription runs out on NAV uninstall that **** and load up on avast. It sit's in the backround and scans in real time and uses very little system resourses.